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By Fraser Smith
Mon 20th March 17
The Road Safety Western Force will take a 25-man squad on their tour of New Zealand, for the Round Five and Round Six matches against the Crusaders and the Blues.
Club legend Matt Hodgson comes back into the squad after recovering from a hamstring strain in the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens in February. Lock Richie Arnold is in contention to make his Vodafone Super Rugby debut, and the big hitting Anaru Rangi rounds out the changes to the forward pack.
In the backline, experienced utility back Marcel Brache joins Alex Newsome in the squad, while Wallaby Dane Haylett-Petty will be rested.
Brynard Stander has been ruled out after aggravating his shoulder and Future Force Foundation forward Onehunga Havili Kaufusi has been omitted.
The Road Safety Western Force travel to Christchurch first, as they are set to take on the Crusaders this Friday from 2:35pm (AWST).
Road Safety Western Force New Zealand Travelling Squad
Jermaine Ainsley
Richie Arnold
Marcel Brache
Robbie Coleman
Pek Cowan
Ben Daley
Tetera Faulkner
Ross Haylett-Petty
Richard Hardwick
Matt Hodgson
Kane Koteka
Jono Lance
Ryan Louwrens
Bill Meakes
Luke Morahan
Isireli Naisarani
Alex Newsome
Chance Peni
Matt Philip
Tatafu Polota-Nau
Ian Prior
Anaru Rangi
Curtis Rona
Michael Ruru
Heath Tessmann
https://www.westernforce.com.au/arti...and-tour-named
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Must be seeing things. Probably a lack of caffeine and sleep.
I mean, I thought I saw DHP being rested, but why would you do that as a team that's 1 from 3 with your future on the line with one of your backline Wallabies...
Big call resting Dane, however, if we are going to coming off a bye and playing two of the toughest may be the right time so he is fit and raring to go for the winnable games
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Resting DHP coming off of the bye is a ridiculous decision.
he must be injured,surely-or does the ARU want to keep him in mothballs for his new super team?
According to the west it is a groin problem
Nick Taylor
Wallabies winger Dane Haylett-Petty a surprise omission from Western Force squad for two-match New Zealand tour
The club said he had been rested because of a niggling groin injury ahead of the Crusaders clash in Christchurch on Friday.
more here
https://thewest.com.au/sport/wallabi...-ng-b88420795z
Last thing you want is DHP destroying his groin against the Saders, I know our record against them is one of the better ones, but we always go into those matches as massive underdogs and I'd suggest it's important that players like him be fit for the Blues and the Kings.
C'mon the![]()
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Which are the winnable games
Having a quick look at the touring squad I'd name a back three of Morahan, Newsome and Peni, the bench becomes more interesting, but I think I'd probably go for Coleman or Brache (both for versatility) Coleman has played some 12 and wing, Brache has played pretty much all across our backline, except 10. Brache has the enthusiasm and team spirit to make a decent fist of any position, but really doesn't have the physical abilities required of Super Rugby, Coleman is the archetypical small back, fast feet and enough vision to do something useful with them, but has been pretty unproven in this team.
So who would you pick, for the bench and for the start?
C'mon the![]()
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Sounds good. Is Masirewa injured?
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
No one stands out as fullback cover in the team. Not sure on how good a boot Coleman has but it his speed and experience would probably suit as stand in fullback.
Haven't been impressed with Coleman so far, think he'll get slaughtered by the kiwis. Not really feeling confident without DHP, Benny and Brynard.